Cleaner Shrimps

pooreefer · #1 02/18/2002, 05:09 PM

What exactly do they clean?

Pomacanthus1 · #2 02/18/2002, 05:12 PM

They clean parasites and dead scales off of fish. They might inspect your hand too, if you put it in the tank and keep it very still.

TheJ · #3 02/18/2002, 05:12 PM

Parasites & dead scales off of (some) fish. My Maroons have never allowed my cleaner to clean them, but it tries! Jumps on the fish, and the fish get ****ed. Very funny

TheJ · #4 02/18/2002, 05:14 PM

Ah, beaten to it

Yeah, my cleaner shrimp will clean my hands too, or anything else I put into the tank. Cool animals.

pooreefer · #5 02/18/2002, 05:15 PM

What is the ideal number to add into a 55gal? Thanks for the replies.

Atticus · #6 02/18/2002, 05:17 PM

what is your fish load??? I have 3 in my 55 and they made 2 stations... Fun to watch.

pooreefer · #7 02/18/2002, 05:18 PM

Oh yeah, and if the fishes don't allow the shrimp to clean; will it starve then?

TheJ · #8 02/18/2002, 05:18 PM

I'd say 2, so they can spawn. They are hermaphrodites, so any 2 will theoretically form a pair.

Just my opinion

TheJ · #9 02/18/2002, 05:19 PM

pooreefer- they won't starve! Mine go nuts for anything I feed the fish, and sometimes I throw them some crab bites. They are ravenous eaters!

pooreefer · #10 02/18/2002, 05:19 PM

Currently I have 3 fishes: 2 clowns, 1 anemone, & 1 damsel.

pooreefer · #11 02/18/2002, 05:21 PM

Two is it then, I'm gonna run out them right now. Thanks everybody.

asch803 · #12 02/18/2002, 06:24 PM

I have 5 cleaners in my 120 gal tank and they are ravenous eating pretty much anything AND going at my arm when i put it in the tank...My question, they are constantly around my clams and seem to be picking from my nicest largest clam - a 5" Crocea...Are they doing any damage? It's tough for me to tell, but i do think it's bothering the clams...thanks!

Andy

Atticus · #13 02/19/2002, 02:43 PM

Andy,
The most trouble they will cause the clam is the pestering. If this gets too bad the clam will close up.

slimer · #14 02/19/2002, 02:49 PM

My cleaner shrimp just passed away a few months ago. Ever since then, my sand bed critters have returned with a vengence. I can see bristle worms and pods everywhere again. Don't get a shrimp if you want to keep a lot of detrivores.

Steve847 · #15 02/19/2002, 03:30 PM

any problem with keeping them with a coral banded shrimp?

Theo · #16 02/19/2002, 03:49 PM

I had one that I've had with a spotted puffer for about 2 years now and suddenly niblet the puffer decided it would make a good snack! Sadly he was eaten yesterday. I have read that they shouldn't be kept with puffers because their skin is too sensitive but I never had a problem and with a puffers tendancy to get ich it was great.
Hes really fat too hes grown an inch in the last 3 months alone.

Toutouche · #17 02/19/2002, 04:12 PM

Steve847, I have a cleaner shrimp, and a coral banded shrimp. At first they stayed away from each other at opposite ends of the tank. After awhile they seem to have found the same rock that they like to hang out on. So they get along great, are always near each other, but don't actually hang out together ( each goes it's own way). When introducing to the tank though, I would put one in at each end away from each other, and let them discover each other by themselves, instead of one just dropping in on the others territory.

Atticus · #18 02/20/2002, 04:10 PM

My CB shrimp is a murderer!!!!!! Any other shrimp I add to the tank he will kill by morning. He is over 2 years old though and is huge. He stayed with a cleaner for 6 months then went crazy and won't tolerate any new additions.